Dog Man Fans Pack Milwaukee Theater for Dav Pilkey

Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey celebrated his latest release with a sold-out crowd. 

Last November, fans of all ages filled every seat at Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as Dav Pilkey took the stage for “An Afternoon with Dog Man Creator Dav Pilkey.” The theater’s 2,480 seats were completely sold out. 

Before the show started, Pilkey reflected on his book tour saying, “To be in a group of people that are so wonderful and so positive about something that’s so important, [like] reading, makes me incredibly grateful.” 

Lights, Laughter and Literacy 

When the event began, Pilkey shared a presentation, talked about his childhood, and then drew illustrations from his graphic novels live on stage. He said, “When I was a kid, I had such a hard time in school. I had ADHD and dyslexia and the one thing I loved to do was make comics for my friends because it made them all laugh. That’s how I felt like I fit in and now kids all over the world read my stories and it’s overwhelming…I’m so grateful to have so many kids using my books to [read].” 

The crowd laughed as Pilkey told funny stories, talked about his characters, and drew cartoons. Some kids, and even adults, dressed as characters from Pilkey’s books. When Pilkey asked trivia questions, hands went up fast and correct answers earned prizes. 

Kid Reporter Evy Bingle with author Dav Pilkey. 

I asked Pilkey what he hopes kids remember after reading his books and he said, “I hope kids remember that reading is fun…I hope they have a good experience and it makes them want to read more books.” 

After the drawing session, Pilkey stayed to take photos with everyone who wanted a picture. While fans waited, they could take part in activities on different floors of the theater. There were stations where kids could sketch their own comics, visit with a character from Dog Man, and take photos. Every person who attended also received a signed copy of Pilkey’s new book Dog Man: Big Jim Believes, a Dog Man tote bag, and a Dog Man badge. 

Pilkey said, “I enjoy the process of getting lost in a book, especially if it’s a book about interesting ideas.” His advice about literacy for kids is simply, “Read what you love.” 

In the end, the sold-out crowd confirmed: They love the work of Dav Pilkey!